Melonie Nielsen opened the Vancouver Yoga Center over 20 years ago, but more importantly, she opened her heart to the community. She has tirelessly and passionately worked to provide a sanctuary for all who come to practice. Like many small businesses across the country, she had to abruptly close her doors to keep her clients, dedicated yoga instructors, and massage therapists safe.

Unfortunately, the small business loans being offered will not be helpful for the studio as it operates with low to no profits and she fears she will not be able to pay them back. The studio is currently debt free, but with little reserves in the bank, operating much of what it does on a month to month basis. The money that is raised by this campaign will be used to cover three months of studio rental, other business expenses and some income replacement if funds allow.

Yoga is a labor of love at the Vancouver Yoga Center. Melonie and her staff do this work for you and for the community. They want to be able to reopen their doors when the COVID-19 crisis has shifted.

Please consider supporting the studio in any of these ways:

- Clients can use current passes for the online classes that are available on our website VancouverYogaCenter.com

- Clients can use current passes for the weekly classes that are live-streamed via Zoom. Check out the schedule and sign up for classes on our website VancouverYogaCenter.com

- Clients can gift their current passes back to the studio and pay drop-in for the online classes. (Send Melonie an email at melonie@vancouveryogacenter.com with “gift my classes” in the subject line.)

- Donate to this GoFundMe campaign and help us get the word out in the community. Donations will be used to cover monthly rent, other business expenses and some income replacement if funds allow.

- All of our massage therapists are self-employed business owners who will not qualify for unemployment. Help them by buying gift certificates directly from them (see our website for more details).

Know that your support goes a long way. Melonie and her staff greatly appreciate all your dedication through the years, making our community what it is.

They are wishing you all to stay safe and stay healthy and look forward to seeing your faces and hearing your laughter again.